Context analysis and Risk assessment

In unit 1, we briefly talked about the criminalisation of LGBTQ identities makes us vulnerable to certain risks, such as police surveillance. Unlike the video above, we don't all have a crystal ball to predict all kinds of risk. 

Risk management planning process

In practice, before the start of a programme or when there is a major disruption in a familiar operational context, we commonly conduct some form of context analysis to better understand the environment that we or the organization are operating in. The risk management planning process can be simplified into the following steps:

  • Step 1: Conduct a context analysis to locate the context where a threat is happening 
  • Step 2: Risk Assessment to Identify threats, vulnerabilities, and how to address them.

Context Analysis Questions

There are several methods to conduct context analysis, for instance actor mapping , SWOT, and PESTLE. We selected a list of questions provided by Frontline Defenders' Workbook on Security. 

Context Analysis sample questions: 

1. What are the key issues which impact on human rights in the country? (Consider political, economic and social issues).
2. Who are the main actors on these key issues? (Consider powerful individuals, institutions, local, national, regional and international organisations, business and other states).
3. How might our human rights work negatively or positively affect the interests of these key actors – how have they responded already?
4. When are HRDs most likely to be attacked (verbally or physically)? (Eg. prior to or during elections, demonstrations, anniversaries, certain religious events etc)

 

Trends and observation

These questions help us unpack the social-political landscape where the threat is happening, potentially help to locate certain trends from past incidents. The context analysis also informs us the likelihood of threats based on past incidents. 

 

One observation from LGBTQ groups is Ramadan is generally more risky to organise queer events. For instance, in 2017 Pelangi Campaign organised a 'Big Gay Iftar' event received backlash for having such event during the holy month. More recently, in 2024 PAS urged the government to ban Western artists like Ed Sheeran from performing in Malaysia citing that it is insensitive to have the concert right before the holy month. 

 

 Adapted from:  

 

 

Last modified: Wednesday, 4 February 2026, 5:27 AM